System for furnishing intermittent telegraph service



March 11, 1930. L. c. ROBERTS SYSTEM FOR FURNISHING INTERMITTENTTELEGRAPH SERVICE Filed April 12. 1928 pertbai'ically flmter avckDel/[1:2

INVENTOR I. C. Rafiertzs ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 11, 1930 (UNITED. STATESPATENT OFFICE LELAND C. ROBERTS, OF TOWAGO, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TOAMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEVJ YORKSYSTEM FOR FURNISHING INTERMITTEN T TELEGRAPH SERVICE Application filedApril 12,

This invention relates to an improved system for furnishing intermittenttelegraph service whereby the utility of a line may greatly increase byonly connecting a sub- 15 scriber thereto when said subscriber desiresto utilize the line. The invention also relates to an improved meteringdevice suitable for use in furnishing telegraph service.

In furnishing certain types of leased wire telegraph service it is thepractice to charge a subscriber for such service for a definite lengthof time regardless of whether or not the wire is utilized. In furnishingother types of leased wire service, it may be desirable to charge asubscriber only when the line is actually in use. The arrangements ofthe present invention are suitable for this latter type of service andare designed to meter or record the time a subscriber utilizes a line.

A further advantage of the arrangements consists in the fact that theyare so associated with the subscriber and the line that when thesubscriber is not sending, the line is free to be utilized for otherpurposes. The

arrangements, of the invention are furthermore designed for meteringunder various conditions of the service load. Other objects and featuresof the invention will appear more fully from the detailed descriptionthereof hereinafter given.

The invention may be more fully understood from the followingdescription together with the accompanying drawing in the figure ofwhich is shown a circuit diagram embodying a preferred form of theinvention.

, In the drawing is shown a section 1 of a telegraph circuit. Of theapparatus usually associated therewith, only a sending relay 12 I isillustrated. The telegraph circuit 1 may a 40 be connected over thecontact of a relay 4 and conductor 15 to the key 2 of a subscriber. Itwill appear hereinafter that when the key 2 is closed for a longer timethan is normal in the transmission of signals, as would be the 1 casewhen the subscriber is not using the tele- 1928.- Serial No. 269,428.

the purpose of sending, the following circuit will be opened; from, thenegative pole of battery 14, contact of relay 4, conductor 15, contactof key 2, winding of theslow operate relay 3, to the positive pole ofbattery 16. This I will cause relay 3 to release. It is pointed out thatrelay 4 is normally held operated over the left hand contact of'relay 3.This will hold the subscribers circuit 15 disconnected from thetelegraph line 1 so that when the subscriber is not sending thetelegraph line may be utilized for other purposes. The winding of relay4 is shunted by the condenser 13. When relay 3 releases, the condenser13 will discharge and the relay 4 will release. This will connect thesubscribers left hand armature will close a normally open circuitforrelay 5, thereby operating relay 5. The operation of relay 5 willconnect conductor 17 to the winding of relay 6. Conduotor 17 may beconnected over the contact of relay 10 to a battery 18. The relay 10 iscontrolled by an operating circuit 11 which may be closed periodicallyby clockwork mechanism of any desired type. Accordingly, every time thecircuit 11 is closed, the relay 6 will be operated and will allow theregister device 8 to move ahead one step. By means of the registerdevice 8 and the clockwork mechanism,the time the subscriber utilizesthe telegraph circuit 1 may be kept track of. The register device 8 maybe used as a fiat rate meter. If it were desired to meter during busyhours, or under peak load service 51 cordingly closes the key 2 for alonger period 3:

than usual, the slow operate relay 3 will be operated by the batteryconnected to the sending relay 12. The operation of relay 3 will connectground over its left hand contact to the winding of relay 4 which isshunted by'the condenser 13. If the subscriber continues to hold his keyclosed, condenser 13 becomes charged and relay 4 operates. If thesubscriber does not hold his key closed a sufficient interval of time,however, relay 8 will be released, causing battery to be connected toboth terminals of relay 4 and condenser 18, thus causing the rapiddischarge of condenser 13 and preventing the operation of relay 4.

While the invention has been illustrated as embodied in certain specificarrangements which are deemed desirable, it is understood that it iscapable of embodiment in many' and other widely varied formswithoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention as defined by theappended claims. Y

What is claimed is:

being controlled by said subscribers telegraph transmitter when actuatedfor the transmission of signals. 1

In testimony whereof, I'have signed my 7 name to this specification this11th day of April, 192a LELAND o. ROBERTS.

1. A telegraph line, a subscribers circuit,

a telegraph transmitter in said subscribers circuit by said telegraphtransmitter for transmitting signals for connecting said subscriberscircuit to said telegraph 11116 and for starting said metering device,and means to introduce a time element in the operation of saidmechanism.

3. 'A telegraph line, a subscribers circuit,

a slow operate relayin said subscribers circuit, a sending telegraph!transmitter for opening said subscribers circuit whereby sa1d slowoperate relay may be released,a

circuit controlled by said'slow operate relay, I a relay included insaid circuit, .a condenser in said circuit for controlling the rate ofoperation of said relay, means 'c'ontrolled by said relay for connectingsaid subscribers circuit to said telegraph line, a circuit controlled bysaid last mentioned relay, and

metering arrangements controlled by said last mentloned circult.

4. A telegraph line, a subscribers circuit, it

a slow operate relay in said subscribers circuit, a telegraphtransmitter for opening said subscribers circuit whereby said slowoperate relay may be released, a circuit controlled by said slow operaterelay, a relay included in said circuit, a condenser shunted about saidrelay for controlling the rate of operation of said relay, meanscontrolled by said relay for connecting said subscriberscircuit to saldtelegraph llne, a clrcuit controlled by said last mentioned relay, a'periodically closed metering circuit controlled by said last mentionedcircuit, and means for selectively connecting metering devices in saidmetering circuit.

5. A telegraph line, a subscribers circuit, a telegraph transmitter insaid subscribers circuit, and mechanism in said subscribers circuit forconnecting said'subscribers circuit to said telegraph line, saidmechanism

